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Weekend Enrichment Program

Age 4 - Grade 8

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Winter application opens in early December.

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In-person at Northwestern University – Evanston campus

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Six-week sessions on Saturdays during the fall, winter and spring.

Fall 2023: Oct 7 - Nov 11
Winter 2024: Jan 20 - Feb 24
Spring 2024: Apr 13 - May 18

 

Tuition: $375

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CTD’s Weekend Enrichment Program (WEP) gives students the opportunity to engage with advanced content in a fun, collaborative learning environment. Through hands-on activities that encourage application of new knowledge and skills students learn to take on challenges that will prepare them for middle school, high school, and beyond.

Why Choose the Weekend Enrichment Program?

The in-person Weekend Enrichment Program offers challenging, hands-on courses for academically advanced learners age 4 through grade 8 and introduces them to peers with similar interests. 

Benefits Include:

  • Engagement with accelerated content in a fun, collaborative environment
  • Opportunities to develop both independent and collaborative problem-solving skills
  • A community of peers and the guidance of expert educators
Application Process

With the launch of our new application system, our processes have changed and are more streamlined for your convenience.

From the Home page on your MyCTD account go to Courses.  If you do not yet have a MyCTD account, you can create one by clicking on MyCTD account from the upper right corner of our website. Please make sure to put your student or students into your account and make sure to select a STUDENT for each application.

You may use the filter to search for classes OR type in the class you wish to apply for in the search field.

Select the Apply Now button in the upper right corner of the course description card.

Select the student for whom you wish to create an application.

If your student’s school is not found with the search tool, please choose Other and provide your student’s school information in the space provided.

Please read through and sign the necessary release page.  The policies link at the top of the page includes the withdrawal and refund policies applicants agree to.  We ask that you make sure to review the policies for the program you are applying to carefully.

You may then choose to create a new application or proceed to the payments page.

On the payments page, select New Course Payment.

The Applications for Payment screen will allow you to make payment for the class AND shows the enrollment status of your application(s).  If the status is Under Review, no further action should be needed.  If the status reads Additional Information Needed, you will need to provide either qualifying test scores OR your student’s most recent report card/transcript and the name and email of their classroom teacher or the teacher whose class most closely relates to the course for which you are applying.

Please note, we have recently migrated to a new system and there may be some errors in our database. If you feel that your student’s Enrollment Status should read Under Review based on previous CTD classes, please email ctd-admissions@northwestern.edu .

If you would like to apply for need based financial aid, please make sure to read through our financial aid page to assess if you may qualify: https://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/financial-aid  If you indicate you are applying for financial aid you will receive the FACTS financial aid application in a follow-up email.  Your application to the course cannot be reviewed without a COMPLETED FACTS application in the FACTS system.

On the payment screen, please select the application or applications you wish to pay for.  Unless applying for financial aid, CTD requires full payment at the time of application for most programs. If your student is not accepted, or the class is cancelled, you will receive a full refund.

Once you have made payment you will be directed back to your dashboard.  Please select TO APPLICATION.

You may choose to complete your application at this time OR you may come back to it. Please keep in mind, paying for and submitting and application DOES NOT hold a spot for your student.  Classes are filled in the order that completed, qualifying applications are received.

COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION

You will receive a confirmation email upon submission of your payment. The email contains a link to more specific directions regarding how to complete your application, should additional information be needed.

To complete your student’s application with qualifying TEST SCORES, click on Upload Test Scores.  You may also use this button to upload a copy of your student’s grades if necessary to show proof of prerequisites.

To complete your student’s application with a TEACHER RECOMMENDATION and GRADES please provide the name and email address of your recommending teacher.  If you do not have the grades ready at the same time you will be able to return to provide them later by following the prompts in your MyCTD account.

If you have any prerequisites that are not documented on your report card or transcript, you will have the opportunity to upload them separately.

We kindly request that you do not upload the same documents multiple times.  Please also allow our team up to 7 business days to process any documents provided for your application.

Eligibility

CTD courses for students in grades 2 and younger are at the Amber Tier for eligibility, which is open enrollment. There are no test scores or further documentation required for participationPlease note that successful completion of a CTD course for students PreK through grade 2 does not pre-qualify students to enroll in future classes outside of the Amber Tier.

Weekend Enrichment Program courses for grades 3 and up are at the Emerald Tier for eligibility. To qualify for Emerald Tier courses, students must provide one of the following:

  • Achievement of a score of 90th percentile or higher on a nationally normed grade-level assessment in the required qualifying subject area (Verbal or Math) for the desired course; OR
  • Successful completion of a CTD course, with the same qualifying subject area within the past two years; OR
  • Submission of a portfolio application, consisting of a teacher recommendation (available after submitting the application) and the student’s most recent report card, demonstrating that the student is performing exceptionally well in the qualifying subject area. This option is for students grade 3 and up, only.

For families looking for insights into student learning or interested in assessment for program eligibility (test scores are valid for 2 years for CTD programs), Center for Talent Development offers REMOTE assessment using MAP.  Because of the requirements of remote testing, there are limited dates and times available. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more.

Requests for Grade Advancement/Acceleration

CTD course content is advanced or grade-level accelerated, as reflected in course descriptions and the standard admission requirements. Though course content is advanced, students can engage with intellectual peers who are also age- or grade-level peers. Therefore, most students should apply for courses aligned to the grade-level in which they are currently enrolled. Still, for some students demonstrating a need for an even higher level of instruction than CTD’s advanced and accelerated courses already provide, further acceleration may be an option. Visit the Requesting an Accelerated Placement web page for more information about the process, timeline, and required materials.

Fees, Withdrawals, and Financial Aid

Tuition

$375 per each 6-week course.

Withdrawals

Please see CTD's withdrawal and refund information for policies.

Financial Aid

CTD offers need-based financial aid awarded as requests are received. Families are encouraged to apply early because the amount of aid available is limited. Please see the Financial Aid page for details. 

  • The deadline to complete a financial aid application is two weeks prior to the start date of the class.
  • You will receive the FACTS application link in your application confirmation email once the $65 dollar tuition deposit is paid and the application is submitted.
  • It is imperative that you complete the financial aid application as soon as possible as it may take FACTS up to ten days to process your information.
  • If you previously completed a FACTS application for the 2022-2023 academic year for CTD, you must still attach the 2023-2024 FACTS application to your FACTS account. You will be able to link your FACTS account to this new FACTS information. You may need to update financial information.

If you experience difficulties with the FACTS process please call the FACTS helpline at 866/412-4637.

Course Environment and Locations

The following elements make the WEP environment unique:

  • Extensive time is spent in-depth with one subject. Choosing a course that suits a student's strengths and interests is crucial.
  • WEP courses are dynamic. Students engage in a variety of activities during each class session. Students work independently, in pairs, and in small groups.
  • Classes are rigorous, designed to be up to 2 years academically advanced, and there is little unstructured time. This requires significant focus and energy on the part of the students.

Locations 

Evanston: Northwestern University – Evanston campus

 

 

Evaluations

All Weekend Enrichment Program students receive a brief narrative evaluation that includes comments on the student’s performance in class as well as recommendations for future study. An e-mail notification will be sent when the evaluation is available for access via MyCTD.

Health & Communicable Illness

The health and safety of our students and staff has always been CTD's top priority. This year is no exception. Parents/caregivers are strongly encouraged to monitor their students for symptoms of illness prior to each class, keep sick students at home, and get them tested for communicable illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, and strep throat.

 

 

Contact Us

“This program has been a game changer for our daughter. It has helped with self esteem and is a way for her to be challenged without the anxiety of grades or test results.”
- Weekend Enrichment Program parent

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